Full-time Dietary Lead

Sacramento Behavioral Healthcare Hospital; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 36,602 - 41,727; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Dental

401(k)

3.5 Weeks Paid Time Off

$25,000 Life insurance policy

Job summary

A behavioral health care facility in Sacramento seeks a Dietary Lead. You will manage the meal production process, assist with kitchen safety and sanitation, and train staff on food service standards. The role requires flexibility and excellent organizational skills. The ideal candidate has experience in food service, is comfortable in a psychiatric environment, and holds a Food Safety Handler Card. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and paid time off.

Qualifications

• Able to work day, weekend, or evening shifts with 48-hour notice.
• Food Safety Handler Card required within the first week.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient information at all times.

Responsibilities

• Assemble, prepare, and serve meals and snacks according to menus.
• Train new and existing staff on food safety and sanitation.
• Ensure consistent completion of food safety documentation.

Skills

Organizational skills

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Good judgment and problem-solving skills

Sensitivity to various backgrounds

Education

High School degree or equivalent

Tools

Kitchen equipment

Job description

Position Title: Dietary Lead

Reports to: Director of Dietary Services
Pay Range: $26.57 - $30.29

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, love being the go-to person on shift, and believe that good food is part of good care, we want to hear from you! Sacramento Behavioral Healthcare Hospital is looking for a Dietary Lead who brings energy, ownership, and a passion for food service to our dietary team. This is a hands‑on role where no two days look the same, and your work directly supports the patients, staff, and guests who depend on us every day.

Key Responsibilities

Meal Production & Service

• Assemble, prepare, and serve meals and snacks according to menus, recipes, diet requirements, textures, and portion standards
• Support Cooks and Dietary Aides with food preparation, tray setup, and workflow needs
• Organize and deliver prepared food to patient areas
• Maintain food quality, temperature control, and accuracy during all meal services
• Conduct spot checks on food temperatures and tray accuracy

Workflow Coordination (Non Supervisory)

• Set up and maintain tray line workflow for all meal services
• Coordinate task assignments based on staffing and operational needs (no disciplinary or supervisory authority)
• Resolve workflow issues in real time within established procedures
• Ensure timely and efficient meal service while supporting team communication

Kitchen Readiness, Safety & Sanitation

• Perform shift start and end of shift walkthroughs to ensure kitchen readiness, cleanliness, and organization
• Monitor walk in temperatures, dry storage, dish room setup, and equipment functionality
• Identify safety, sanitation, or maintenance concerns; address within scope or report to the Director
• Maintain high standards of sanitation, food labeling, dating, and documentation

Inventory, Deliveries & Ordering Support

• Participate in inventory review and communicate supply needs
• Receive, verify, and document food and supply deliveries, including temperatures, quantities, and product condition
• Coordinate delivery put away workflow without disrupting meal service
• Assist with ordering processes as assigned, following facility procedures

Staff Training & Development

• Train new and existing staff on food safety, sanitation, workflow, tray accuracy, and recipe compliance
• Demonstrate proper techniques and reinforce facility standards during daily operations
• Communicate training needs or skill gaps to the Director

Documentation & Compliance

• Ensure consistent completion of temperature logs, cleaning logs, and food safety documentation
• Uphold organizational ethics, confidentiality, and customer service standards
• Follow all facility policies and procedures

Professional Conduct

• Serve behavioral health patients and staff with a friendly, helpful, and professional demeanor
• Maintain excellent attendance and reliability
• Take required breaks according to policy and operational coverage
• No overtime permitted without prior authorization

Requirements

Position Requirements

• Maintain an excellent attendance record
• Comfortable working in a psychiatric hospital environment
• Food Safety Handler Card required within the first week of employment
• Able to work day, weekend, or evening shifts with 48 hour notice
• Available for on call shifts
• Flexible in job assignments to meet patient care needs
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks
• Able to read, write, and communicate in English
• Maintains confidentiality of patient information at all times
• Demonstrates good judgment, professionalism, and self control in challenging situations

Knowledge and Experience

• High School degree or equivalent required
• Prefer food service experience in a treatment center, health care or treatment center setting
• Must be able to concentrate on work amidst distractions such as noise, conversations and foot traffic
• Experience in consistently meeting deadlines; and finish all food preparation at specified serving time; must be flexible in work hours in order to meet patient and organization operating needs
• Must be able to use kitchen equipment such as knives, slicers, mixers and dishwashers
• Knowledge of the hygiene factors involved in food preparation
• Must be able to work independently, in a result restricted physical environment for extended periods of time

Skills and Abilities

• Maintains confidentiality of patients at all times. This includes information pertaining to care and dietary requirements as well as confidential internal company information and activities
• Sensitivity to and willingness to interact with persons of various social, cultural, economic and educational backgrounds
• Must maintain self-control in volatile or hostile customer services interactions
• Organizational skills with ability to prioritize tasks
• Able to read, write and communicate in English
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Good judgment and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to train others effectively in daily workflow and food safety standards

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, this position is frequently required to do the following:

• Communicate effectively in person or via telephone in a manner which can be understood by those with whom the person is speaking, including a diverse population
• Give and follow verbal and written instructions with attention to detail and accuracy
• Vision: see details of objects at close range
• Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously
• Reach forward, up, down, and to the side
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods and move throughout the work area repeatedly throughout the day
• Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, grasp, and be able to perceive the attributes of objects such as size, shape, temperature, and/or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips. Ability to express and exchange ideas via spoken word during activities in which they must convey detail or important spoken instructions to others accurately, sometimes quickly and loudly. Hearing to perceive the nature of sounds with no less than 40db loss @ HZ, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz with or without correction; ability to perceive detailed information through oral communication and to make fine discriminations in sound. Perform repetitive motions with wrists, hands and fingers
• Ability to lift up to fifty (50) pounds

Benefits

• Medical
• Vision
• Dental
• 401(k)
• 3.5 Weeks Paid Time Off
• $25,000 Life insurance policy is provided at no charge to the employee